Move Over, Dirty Harry

GARY STEIN

It has taken me a while, but I am finally starting to figure out the popularity of Bernhard Goetz.

For quite some time, I had problems with the way Goetz defended himself, particularly as I read more about New York`s subway gunman.

But many people have told me that I was way off base in my attitude.

``Goetz is a hero,`` one person said.

``Bernhard speaks for America,`` another said.

Well, after thinking about this for a while I am finally starting to realize that what a lot of people are saying is right.

Bernhard Goetz speaks for America. At least, for a certain part of America.

It`s been obvious for some time that a certain segment of our society -- the types who have made Mr. Goetz out to be a certified hero and want him to run for public office and maybe get his own television show and perhaps an American Express commercial or have a highway named after him -- have needed a new motto, a new way to get the message across.

There used to be a couple of good Dirty Harry lines to live by, but you can only be inspired by those for so long.

I mean, when Clint Eastwood says ``Go ahead -- make my day,`` you can almost imagine people sitting at home in front of the television, chewing on a Hershey bar and chuckling. Chuckling at Clint, because the line is becoming almost low-level camp. Right now, that line is about as fearsome as ``Mr. Whipple, Don`t Squeeze the Charmin.``

And there was the other catchy Dirty Harry line, something to the effect of ``Do you feel lucky today, punk?``

That kind of talk had impact in its day, but we are talking 1985 now. An America that has different kinds of heroes . . . and wants different kinds of inspirational messages to lead people through the hard times.

Bernhard may be just the person to provide the inspiration.

Columnists and sociologists and all sorts of other ``ists`` have been telling us that many people think being a vigilante is in vogue. They have been thinking up all sorts of meanings for what Bernhard did. One syndicated columnist suggested that Bernhard has made carrying a weapon fashionable.

Perhaps. But I think the greatest thing Bernhard has done is give some folks a few new mottoes that were sorely needed.

It all started during the now-legendary incident on the subway, when the four punks allegedly hassled Bernhard and asked him for $5.

Bernhard was ready for the occasion, both physically and vocally.

According to reports when the incident first happened, Bernhard allegedly said something like ``I have $5 for each of you,`` at which time he pulled his gun and started blasting away at the four teen-agers.

That line got a lot of ink in New York City.

But now, there is more.

Word out of New York last week is that a police report says Bernhard may have come up with another classic line during the incident on the subway.

The police report says that, after the shootings, Bernhard looked at one of the teen-agers who was shot, and uttered -- this is a gem -- ``You don`t look too bad, here`s another,`` and then fired another shot that apparently missed.

I can see the bumper stickers and the T-shirts now. Hollywood must be going nuts.

And I have a feeling that wherever he is, Dirty Harry knows he had better come up with some new material. In a hurry.